Effect of pharmacy practice residency training on residents' knowledge of and interest in clinical research

The effect of pharmacy practice residency training on subjectively and objectively assessed research knowledge, skills, and interests of residents was studied.

A preintervention versus post-intervention design was used. Residency year 2004- 05 residents were administered a validated Web-based survey at the beginning of residency and again at the end of residency. The survey collected resident responses to questions regarding resident and residency characteristics, subjective assessments of specific professional skills and research skills and knowledge, and objective assessments of basic research knowledge. For residents who completed beginning and end of residency surveys, results were linked when possible to allow for paired and unpaired statistical analyses.

Totals of 346 (33.2% response rate) and 222 (21.3% response rate) surveys were completed at the beginning and the end of the residency, respectively, with 129 respondents completing both. Statistically significant improvements were observed for the total and paired population in subjectively assessed research-related skills and abilities and general professional skills. Subjectively assessed understanding of specific statistical tests revealed a significant improvement. Total population analysis and paired population analysis revealed no changes in objectively assessed research-related knowledge from the beginning of the residency to the end of the residency.

Although there was improvement from the beginning to the end of residency in subjectively assessed research-related skills and abilities and in self-assessed understanding of most statistical tests, the end of residency objectively assessed research-related knowledge scores were unchanged. Residents' expectations that the residency would increase research knowledge, skills, and desire for research involvement were unmet. These results suggest that training based on residency program standards may not increase residents' interest or provide them with the skills necessary to participate in clinical research.